The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2015, and October 31, 2016 (see FAQ for exceptions), are automatically nominated for the 2016 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on November 3, 2016, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

KIRKUS REVIEW

Cat brothers Anton and Cecil are on
the road again…or above it, as the case may be.

Fresh from ocean and train trips (Cats at Sea, 2013, etc.), slim, smart
Anton and his fluffy, trouble-magnet brother, Cecil, are ready to head home.
Their friends in the mouse network give them directions that lead to their
meeting Ruby, a bloodhound who works with a human detective. Ruby has a case she’d
like the cats’ help on: puppies are going missing at the fair. The trio splits
up, and with the help of other animals around the fair, they find the puppies
are being dognapped. Danger-prone Cecil ends up in a trap meant to nab a puppy…and
then in a hot air balloon. Separated again, the brothers must reunite and
expose the human dog thieves while helping their animal friends along the way.
Adult literary author Valerie Martin and her educator niece, Lisa Martin, present
a mild third outing. While technically well-written, the action sequences are
more wordy than wild, and the animal characters are so pleasant there’s very
little tension in their world. They don’t understand everything the humans
around them do, and that may elicit a few smiles from some young readers.
Parents seeking a fright-free, friendly tale with few surprises need look no
further.

Feline aficionados may love the cat
characters, but the “mystery” won’t leave them purring. (Fantasy. 8-11)

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